13 Facts About Morton Downey

John Morton Downey, known as Morton Downey, was an American singer and entertainer popular in the United States in the first half of the 20th century, enjoying his greatest success in the late 1920s and early 1930s.

John Morton Downey was born in Wallingford, Connecticut, the fourth of six children of James A and Bessie Downey, a well-known family in both Wallingford and Waterbury, Connecticut.

Morton Downey's father was the chief of the Wallingford Fire Department until a near fatal automobile accident necessitated his retirement.

Morton Downey's signature sound was a very creamy and very high-timbred Irish tenor, which an uninformed listener can easily mistake for a female voice.

Morton Downey toured London, Paris, Berlin, New York City and Hollywood.

Morton Downey began appearing in movies, including Syncopation, the first film released by RKO Radio Pictures.

In 1930, Morton Downey began making national radio broadcasts after opening his own nightclub in New York.

Morton Downey was voted America's "Radio Singer of the Year" in 1932.

At the time, Morton Downey was featured nightly on the Camel Quarter Hour radio broadcast.

On February 5,1945, his transcribed program Songs by Morton Downey moved from the NBC Blue Network to the Mutual Broadcasting System.

Morton Downey was host of the Mohawk Showroom on NBC three nights a week.

Morton Downey was the father of television personality Morton Downey Jr.

Morton Downey died following a stroke in 1985 in Palm Beach, Florida, aged 83, and was buried in the local Catholic cemetery in his hometown of Wallingford, Connecticut.